[ Sometimes it wasn't entirely clear whose nerves Ray was trying to calm, although on occasion he'd been known to project his feelings onto Fraser and soothe the both of them through it; maybe because Fraser so rarely admitted to actual feelings of his own.
On this case, however, his own nerves were being pushed to their absolute limit. This wasn't like walking into a bondage dance club and trying to convince witnesses to do the right thing; that was work, and this was putting a part of himself on display. His feelings for Ray were real, and while he had no problem shouting that from the tallest building, shivering and panting under his partner's affection, hawked at by the eyes of two dozen horny club-goers, was so far from classic Fraser that it would be difficult to negotiate the path back. He didn't let it show, but performing for other people had always made him just a little bit nervous. Outward demonstrations of sexuality at all made him nervous too. The two together was a challenge he was striving to face with all of his own natural verve, just to make sure that Ray didn't end up thrown off by his own uncertainty. Ray needed him to be strong, to know what he was doing, and to always have an insane plan to get them out if things went wrong.
He'd come up with something.
For now, he trailed behind Ray as they entered the store, rather than taking his usual up front approach, all bluster and posture. He was a different man today: he had to make that clear from the start, and sure enough Louise came over, brightening as she saw Fraser, and then shooting a wary look at Ray. ]
Wow. [ She did a double take at Fraser, who lowered his eyes deliberately, playing disinterest, not even saying hello. Surprised, Louise started back upright, where before she'd been leaning around Ray to get a better look at his partner, instead looking him straight in the eyes and breaking into a smile. ] Well hi there. Lady Lou. I run this place. [ She greeted him anyway, perhaps from nerves, perhaps because she was trying to find that common ground: ] Hello Constable. We've missed you around here, we all heard about your place burning down.
[ Fraser smiled warily, but didn't engage, instead stepping away from Ray, moving between the aisles of dildos in mostly flesh colored PVC derivatives and trying not to actively focus his gaze on anything. He'd been in before looking for a leatherwork professional, and Lou had been kind enough to pass along some of her best contacts. As such she had an extensive store of unique clothing as well as the usual sex shop paraphernalia--and Fraser had gotten a discount on the repair of his boots.
God, he hoped Ray could handle this. It felt strange leaving his partner to speak to a woman that Fraser himself already knew on a personal level, and yet with that single gesture he'd made it very clear both who was in charge and that Fraser wanted it that way: that this was a thing he did.
Louise was turning all the charm on Ray now. ] Well, [ She said. ] I am very impressed. I mean--we all thought he was straight. Or maybe we were just deceiving ourselves? Wishful thinking. So...are you a Mountie too?
[ Fraser stayed in earshot, kept his hands to himself, and tried to resist the urge to interfere. Ray could do this. He had to do this. Their cover depended on it. That didn't mean Fraser couldn't be overly concerned--even overprotective. ]
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On this case, however, his own nerves were being pushed to their absolute limit. This wasn't like walking into a bondage dance club and trying to convince witnesses to do the right thing; that was work, and this was putting a part of himself on display. His feelings for Ray were real, and while he had no problem shouting that from the tallest building, shivering and panting under his partner's affection, hawked at by the eyes of two dozen horny club-goers, was so far from classic Fraser that it would be difficult to negotiate the path back. He didn't let it show, but performing for other people had always made him just a little bit nervous. Outward demonstrations of sexuality at all made him nervous too. The two together was a challenge he was striving to face with all of his own natural verve, just to make sure that Ray didn't end up thrown off by his own uncertainty. Ray needed him to be strong, to know what he was doing, and to always have an insane plan to get them out if things went wrong.
He'd come up with something.
For now, he trailed behind Ray as they entered the store, rather than taking his usual up front approach, all bluster and posture. He was a different man today: he had to make that clear from the start, and sure enough Louise came over, brightening as she saw Fraser, and then shooting a wary look at Ray. ]
Wow. [ She did a double take at Fraser, who lowered his eyes deliberately, playing disinterest, not even saying hello. Surprised, Louise started back upright, where before she'd been leaning around Ray to get a better look at his partner, instead looking him straight in the eyes and breaking into a smile. ] Well hi there. Lady Lou. I run this place. [ She greeted him anyway, perhaps from nerves, perhaps because she was trying to find that common ground: ] Hello Constable. We've missed you around here, we all heard about your place burning down.
[ Fraser smiled warily, but didn't engage, instead stepping away from Ray, moving between the aisles of dildos in mostly flesh colored PVC derivatives and trying not to actively focus his gaze on anything. He'd been in before looking for a leatherwork professional, and Lou had been kind enough to pass along some of her best contacts. As such she had an extensive store of unique clothing as well as the usual sex shop paraphernalia--and Fraser had gotten a discount on the repair of his boots.
God, he hoped Ray could handle this. It felt strange leaving his partner to speak to a woman that Fraser himself already knew on a personal level, and yet with that single gesture he'd made it very clear both who was in charge and that Fraser wanted it that way: that this was a thing he did.
Louise was turning all the charm on Ray now. ] Well, [ She said. ] I am very impressed. I mean--we all thought he was straight. Or maybe we were just deceiving ourselves? Wishful thinking. So...are you a Mountie too?
[ Fraser stayed in earshot, kept his hands to himself, and tried to resist the urge to interfere. Ray could do this. He had to do this. Their cover depended on it. That didn't mean Fraser couldn't be overly concerned--even overprotective. ]